Laramie (TV Series) The Run to Tumavaca (1959) User Reviews

Western trophy wife

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 3 December 2017]

Fans of Laramie have learned one thing by now, that is Jess Harper if he has a fault he's a creature of impulse. He hasn't quite got the roving impulse out of his system yet. And like so many of us he thinks with his male member.

Which is what Gena Rowlands is counting on. Before coming to Sherman Station, Robert Fuller worked for a local Ponderosa owner a bit north aways John Archer. He's rich as Midas, but in taking a younger trophy wife he's got one he can't handle. And this one has to be the center of attention 24/7.

She's run away to find Fuller who was most interested in her at one time. Rowlands wants to get to Mexico hoping that is out of Archer's reach. Archer hires some real bottom feeding bounty hunters in Harry Lauter, Kevin Hagen, and Robert Wilke to track her down and return her to him.

What he doesn't know is that Rowlands also ran off with $65,000.00 dollars of his money as well. When he finds out he takes off after her as well.

Rowlands is truly evil in this one. In the scope of her villainy she's right up there with Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity and Jane Greer in Out Of The Past.

You have to see this for Rowlands, she's some piece of work.

A Showcase For Gena Rowlands

[spiritof67 · 8/10 · 24 May 2018]

There's no way to review this without spoilers, so this review has spoilers.

I would contradict a part of the above review; Jess doesn't "think with his male member". He just has its use referred to more than any other TV cowboy of the era. A thread throughout the series is that Jess knows/has met/has heard of/has been "involved with" so many "dance hall girls/saloon girls" it's almost a running joke.

I would add to the above review that not only does a young and stunningly beautiful Gena Rowlands define "femme fatale" Western style, but she comes on with Robert Fuller about as strong as was permissable on TV of the era. She leaves a trail of bodies, mayhem and crossed ties all through the episode, never pausing to do anything but figure out how she can get to the next step. And she shows acting chops that were obviously polished even sharper heading up to her Academy Award. But again, she's molten here - and at the same time frozen. Quite a performance. And she shows yet again that a woman can wield power as well - and as unwisely - as any man.

Well worth watching, and signal to show just how talented this actress was. As for the episode, it's got as many twists and turns as it needs to be what it is: a Western film noir.

Generally a good story

[kitteninbritches · 7/10 · 13 December 2023]

This was indeed generally a good story, even including a romance for Jess, with a woman resurfacing from his past. Presumably he was still infatuated as he agreed to take her to Mexico almost at the drop of a hat and furthermore taking hardly any supplies with them. This manipulating woman is a cold hearted user though and when Jess found out she'd shot her husband , though not fatally, the scales fall from his eyes. Even more so when he realises she has also stolen $60,000 from their marital home. When he tries to take her back home she shoots him too and rides off with the cash. A satisfactory ending, their 3 unpleasant pursuers end up killed, the husband and his "friend" appear, having also been in pursuit. The husband realises what sort of a woman he's married and casts her off and Slim( who has ALSO followed the couple) and Jess return home. The main thing that puzzled me is how they got to Mexico from Laramie after only 4 days ride when the distance to travel by horseback is nearly 1800 miles. It's physically impossible.